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More anxiety as hurricane season nears

DURHAM, N.H., April 13 (UPI) -- Louisiana survivors of Hurricane Katrina and others along the Gulf Coast will experience increased negative emotions and anxiety as the anniversary nears.

Victoria Banyard, associate professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire, says that as the 2006 hurricane season begins, parents should expect changes in their children's behavior as they struggle to express their fears as the anniversary of the natural disaster approaches.

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Exposure to certain traumatic events in childhood can have persistent negative effects on psychological well-being in adulthood, but factors such as social support can buffer some of these effects, according to Banyard.

"Depending on their age, children will often express how they feel differently," Banyard says. "Young children may not have words to describe how they feel but may rather 'show' us through disruptions in their behaviors -- trouble sleeping, fears, etc."

People react to increased anxiety and stress triggered by the anniversary of traumas in many ways, but having social support from friends, family and community, as well as keeping normal life routines are key to dealing with the increased emotions, says Banyard.

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